NZ Asian Lawyers – Meeting the Needs of a Culturally and Linguistically SuperDiverse Aotearoa

Aotearoa, New Zealand, is a superdiverse nation with increasing numbers not born here or with their parents not born here. Our Asian population (comprised of first generation migrants and also second or third generation Asians born in NZ) now makes the greatest contribution to our population growth. This correlates closely…

Law Society membership future outlined

The New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa would like to update its members on potential plans to introduce a membership subscription for representative services and lay out the timeline for that. The Law Society is proud of the membership services it delivers and the support we provide…

Mental Health Awareness Week – Time to take stock of the mental wellbeing of your organisation

 In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week and the ongoing importance of wellbeing in the profession, LawPoints checks in with executive coach Madeleine Shaw. The Australian-based coach and former lawyer recently presented her webinar, 'Out of the Quicksand, 'in association with the New Zealand Law Society Auckland branch,' which was…

Feedback sought: Access to student loans and allowances for Professional Legal Studies courses

The recent re-classification of training providers by the Government means the Professional Legal Studies course (known as Profs) will need to be developed as a Qualification on the NZ Qualifications and Credits Framework, in order to ensure continued access to student support (loan/allowances) beyond 2024.

Complaints system overhaul supported – further consideration needed

Recommendations that the Law Society’s complaints system be changed with the intent of reducing the amount of time spent on less serious matters have been accepted in principle, with some additional recommendations requiring further consideration. The General Manager of Professional Standards (Regulatory) Gareth Smith explains, “The Law Society has…

Library suggestion not practical

The Law Society’s response to the Independent Review has noted that given the significant cost of running libraries, the suggestion that they become a wholly representative function is unlikely to be a practical option. Law Society Library services are currently funded from practising certificate fees and income generated from…

Te Tiriti obligation on regulator, not lawyers

The recommendation that the regulator be subject to an obligation to give effect to the principles of Te Tiriti has been accepted in principle by a majority of Law Society Council members. When the Independent Review Report was released in March, some commentary suggested that the obligations would apply to…

Independent Regulator proposal accepted in principle

In its response to the Independent Review Report, the Law Society has accepted in principle the proposal to establish a new independent regulator. The Review had said that the Law Society’s current structure; operating as both a regulator and membership body, was an outlier in comparison with overseas legal regulatory…

Lawyers could be getting more out of their libraries

The New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa is proud of the extensive Library services it offers its members, operating three Libraries across the motu as well as providing practitioners with access to a wealth of online resources and support. However, Library staff are finding that many lawyers…

Shawn McManus becomes an Associate at Gresson Dorman & Co

Gresson Dorman & Co have announced the promotion of Shawn McManus to Associate.